Model Railway Forum

Mountain Goat wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 10:23 am Looks good. Just need to ensure one has allowance for expansion and contraction, especially where the lifting section is. The rest of the plan is good as one has the freedom to change things as one buys more track etc. Plenty of scope. Probably easiest if the straight sections are not much wider than 18 inches (45cm) wide so one can reach the track for track cleaning. One can go wider if one wants, especially in station areas though one may need a little set of steps to reach the track. Other than that it is fine.
I personally prefer avoiding lifting sections, but one does need to get in and out.
One caution here. Door needs to open outwards if the lifting section is behind it as if it opens inwards, lifting section can come down and one may not be able to get in. (One can make a section that opens like a door with track cut sideways to accommodate this).
The great thing about planning is that one gets to try ideas out in ones mind and on paper or a computer without spending much money. You may find you may make a few mistakes but any mistakes made are a learning progress.
E.G. Something does not work as intended.
Identify the problem.
Look for a solution..

(I actually enjoy this as I learn a lot by teaching myself. Yes, we can have no issues straight away but where is the fun in that? ).

508035 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 4:43 pm I agree, the layout around the shed on shelves with a lift out section is absolutely perfect, that is exactly the kind of layout I would have in a building which is separated from the home and there's also the potential to add a small marshaling yard on the straight section opposite the doorway where a loco could enter a loop, drop off some freight vehicles and collect different freight vehicles which could be awaiting their onward journey so there's plenty of scope for adding further operations to the layout.

Mountain Goat wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 9:42 pm Outside track... An out and back garden railway would be fun! BUT keep all power equipment such as controllers in the dry indoors or in the shed. Also, track ideally needs to be as level as one can make it when running outdoors, and soldered wires to aid electrical connectivity are a must.

Lurch wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 10:44 pm

Mountain Goat wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 9:42 pm Outside track... An out and back garden railway would be fun! BUT keep all power equipment such as controllers in the dry indoors or in the shed. Also, track ideally needs to be as level as one can make it when running outdoors, and soldered wires to aid electrical connectivity are a must.

No, sorry, I mean another track on the outside of the existing big loop.
Not outside, outside.

Lurch wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2025 9:42 am Ok, I think I'm getting closeish. Not going to lock anything else in for now as I'm sure things will change during construction. Also I have hit my limit in SCARM with object count and I'm too tight to pay for the full version.

I have cut the layout into chunks for easier viewing, hopefully you can make sense of this.
Again, after feedback in case I have put anything stupid or am deperately missing anything please.

Do you think I should run a double track main line or just a single track? My idea is that the mainline can increase grade from the yard, down the sides and meet in the middle on the 'bottom' of the layout. Industries and yards will be on the lower level in front of the elevated mainline.

This is the Top left of the layout.



Bottom Left



Bottom right



Top Right



Yard - Will have Locomotive support on the right hand side, sheds, fueling etc. Possibility of an industry on the LHS.